Marli Harwood, a one-time wannabe on TV's Fame Academy, has finally had her big musical break - after "retiring" from the music business following an unenviable run of bad luck.

The singer has recorded five albums for a range of labels over the past 15 years, none of which have ever seen the light of day.

But now after finally giving up on ever making a go of her music career, a year-old track from one of her unreleased albums has been made Radio 2's single of the week this week.

It is thought to be the first time that an unsigned artist has been given the accolade, which will afford her sizeable airplay on the UK's biggest station.

Marli was known as Marli Buck when she had a crack at BBC1's Fame Academy in 2002, but crashed out in the fifth week. The series was won by David Sneddon.

Even by then she had recorded two albums which were never issued. The first was recorded as a teenager for Island Records after being signed in 1995, but the sale of the company meant her album fell through the net, while an album recorded for V2 in the US also gathered dust.

Her new single It's Called A Heart was recorded more than a year ago and was due to appear for yet another unreleased album. Since recording it, the pregnant singer has opted to settle down to family life with her husband, record producer Michael Harwood.

Her management company decided to give it one last plug and it came to the attention of Radio 2's head of music Jeff Smith.

Marli said: "I'm just so overwhelmed and grateful to Radio 2. I've recorded over 100 songs and never heard one of them on the radio, it will be such a thrill when I do."